Biology
Beaver reintroduction improves peatland water storage and drought resilience
A study led by a doctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool has found that beavers may help restore degraded peatlands by keeping landscapes wetter and making them more re…
Genome assembly of rice stink bug offers new data-informed tool in fight against costly pest
Scientists are getting a leg up on the rice stink bug, one of the most significant threats to rice, a staple food for nearly half the world's population and a major crop in Arkans…
Birds basking in natural 'saunas'
New research led by the University of Otago—Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka shows some bird species may be taking advantage of natural geothermal "health spas."
New livestream brings remote Australian arid zone waterhole to the world
A new livestream from a remote waterhole in the Northern Territory is giving people around the world the opportunity to observe wildlife in real time.
Cuttlefish suckers reveal how they grip rough prey—and could inspire better technology
Cephalopods are a group of soft-bodied marine mollusks that include cuttlefish, octopuses, squid and nautiluses. Many of these mollusks have muscular suckers on their arms that al…
Study challenges estimates used to guide Atlantic menhaden fishing
Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), which supports a major commercial fishery along the U.S. East Coast and serves as essential prey for fish, seabirds and marine mammals, ma…
Take good care of your tailbone. I didn’t – and my derriere has never been the same since | Adrian Chiles
My coccyx still hurts from an extreme cycling challenge almost two decades ago. Is there anything it’s good for?‘Welcome to middle age.” This is what my GP said to me 10 years ago…
‘Very messy eaters’: scientists solve the mystery of when black holes ‘burp’
The astronomical bodies fire off powerful jets in two distinct phases in their feeding cycle, researchers discoverScientists have solved the mystery of when black holes “burp” – w…
The week that changed maths for ever – podcast
In early September, OpenAI announced it had solved a major mathematics problem that has stumped humans for nearly a century. The news left mathematicians reeling, and many express…
Why Melbourne makes you sneeze in spring
When most Australians say 'spring is in the air,' they're speaking metaphorically, as the days become longer and warmer.
Sharks on the move expose the need for international conservation efforts
Understanding the migration pathways of sharks and rays is key to conserving some of the world's most endangered marine species, according to new University of Queensland research.
Forest structure matters more than topography in shaping plant diversity in Southern Apennine old-growth forests
A study in Pollino National Park shows that large trees, complex canopies and deadwood diversity play a major role in shaping vascular plant communities, highlighting the ecologic…
Long-term oyster reef restoration shows clear success in murky waters
Large-scale oyster reef restoration in the Chesapeake Bay is successfully creating three-dimensional habitats that support larger, more diverse fish communities, according to new …
Device simulates natural conditions to grow biofilms and test their antibiotic susceptibility more accurately
Biofilms are complex microbial communities that adhere to a surface and encase themselves in a viscous matrix they produce. This structure protects bacteria from antibiotics and t…
Global database reveals hidden diversity and potential of deep-sea microbes
The ocean's aphotic zone—the dark, high-pressure region below the surface, where sunlight cannot reach—is home to a vast wealth of microbial life. Yet scientists know relatively l…
Brazilian sedge reproduces sexually but without DNA reshuffling, producing genetic clones
Sexual reproduction usually reshuffles genetic information, creating offspring that differ from their parents. But one small plant takes an unexpected route. In a new study publis…
Bird flu has claimed its first Australian sea lion and dolphin. How does the virus get into these animals?
A rare Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) on Kangaroo Island has been confirmed to have died from highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu. The sea lion had recently been attacked by a…
Tiny oyster larvae rely on gravity to feed
Eastern oyster larvae are only 100–300 micrometers long, but their dense calcium carbonate shells make them substantially heavier than the surrounding seawater. A new study led by…
The importance of measuring stress in hedgehogs and how a new method could enhance welfare
How can we tell when a hedgehog is stressed? Ph.D. researcher Emily Harper explains how her new research has validated a non-invasive method for measuring stress by analyzing horm…
AI struggles to decipher 'animal language' because sound doesn't equal meaning, experts say
In recent years, numerous attempts have been made to use artificial intelligence to decipher the communication of bats, whales, birds and other animals. However, a new study led b…
Bacterial invasion proteins could improve detection of live crop pathogens
Scientists, clinicians, seed companies and others may soon have a new tool in their toolkit for detecting bacterial pathogens, thanks to a new study by researchers in Penn State's…
Top Trump military adviser says US must prepare to fight around moon
Gen Dan Caine comments at Washington summit come after US revealed it has deployed weapons in spaceAmerican troops need to prepare for combat not only in Earth’s orbit but around …
Spekboom is nutritious, water‑wise and edible—so why aren't more South Africans eating it?
Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) is an easy-to-grow succulent shrub, small tree or hedge. In the wild, it grows naturally as tall as five meters (16 feet) on steep slopes and rocky hi…
Tendon cells can rebound from stiffness when returned to softer tissue-like surroundings
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London are closer to understanding tendinopathy, a common condition that can cause persistent pain and impaired movement in people and many…